Tool for the extraction and retention of thumb tacks



. 5 t fm fmar 2 v Aug. 31, 1954 J. H. NOLL 2,687,540

TOOL FOR THE EXTRACTION AND RETENTION 0F THUMB TACKS Filed April 2, 1952 Patented Aug. 31, 1954 STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOL FOR THE EXTRACTION AND RETENTION OF THUMB TACKS The present invention relates to a tool for the extraction or loosening of thumb tacks from a drawing board or other base and for the retention of the tack when it is to be thrust in place. The invention has for its general object to provide an improved tool of this type consisting of a plate having a prising edge and at least one slot terminating in the prising edge. According to the invention the slot has a fore portion tapering inwardly to permit of a thumb tack being clamped between the sides of the slot by being pressed into the slot, and a rear portion of uniform or increasing width and of sufiicient length to accommodate a plurality of thumb tacks.

One form of tool according to the invention, which is at present preferred and the manner of its use will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the tool;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the tool;

Figures 3-8 illustrate the manner of using the tool;

Fig. 9 is a partial plan of a modification of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, corresponding numerals being indicated with an additional prime.

The tool is in the shape of a fiat elongated piece of sheet metal, preferably steel plate, having parallel side edges. This plate i, has one of its ends formed with a prising edge 2 into which there opens a slot 3 which extends in a direction parallel with the sides of the plate and the portion of the slot adjacent the end of the plate tapers inwardly to the plate to a width substantially corresponding to the diameter of the thumb tack. The slot opens at its inner end into a circular aperture 4 the diameter of which is substantially larger than the width of the slot.

The sheetcnetal plate is preferably plane along the whole of its length, and has its prising edge defined by one plane face and the obliquely bevelled end portion of the opposite plane face. The prising edge is divided by the slot 3 into a pair of pointed or rounded prongs in the manner of a fork. The length of the slot 3 is such that the fork prongs are to a certain extent resiliently movable out of the general plane of the plate and relative to each other. The resilience of the prongs is increased by reason of the reduction in the width of the inner ends of the fork prongs brought about by the circular aperture 4. If desired, the tool may be formed with two or more mutually parallel slots dividing the prising edge into three or more prongs. The rear portion 5 of the tool forms a gripping handle. The tool has an aperture it provided in the rear portion 5 so that it may be suspended, when not in use.

Fig. 2 illustrates the manner of using the tool in cases where the thumb tack l is thrust into the drawing board or another base near the edge thereof. The prising edge of the tool is brought in beneath the head of the thumb tack with the plane face of the tool bearing on the base, the bevelled upper face pressing up the head of the tack at the same time as the tack proper enters the slot 3, the width or" the slot being approximately the same or slightly less than the diameter of the tack. The fork prongs then retain the tack with a certain resiliency, so that as the advance of the tool beneath the head of the tack continues the head of the tack is moved further into the slot. If desired, the tool may be advanced so far in as to cause the aperture l to come right beneath the tack, which latter is then unsupported by the prongs and is readily removable from the base by using the tool as a lever.

If desired, the tack may be removed while still in such supported position by the prongs so that it remains in the slot when it has been extracted, the tack being removed from the slot either manually or by pressing the tack into another position on the base. To facilitate loosening of the tack from the slot after extraction has taken place the slot may be of increasing width towards the circular aperture as shown in Fig. 9. By reason of the great length of the slot, a plurality of thumb tacks may be loosened and introduced into the incision successively, in order that they may then be simultaneously removed from the slot.

When the thumb tack is in position away from the edge of the drawing board or base, the tool is preferably employed in the manner shown in Fig. 4, the prising edge being pushed in beneath the head of the tack with the plane face of the tool upwards, the tool being kept in an inclined position relative to the base so as to accommodate the fingers between the tool and the base.

The tool may be used for picking thumb tacks lying loosely on the base in the manner shown in Fig. 5 the pointed end of the tool being then advanced over the inverted head of the tack l, with the bevelled face pressed against the upwardly facing side of the head of the tack. The tack is then pushed into the slot by continued displacement of the tool, while the head of the tack is at the same time pressed against the base, as shown in Fig. 6. The pin is retained in the slot between the prongs so as to permit of its being moved by means of the tool to the place where it is to be used. Picking may also be effected by thrusting the tool over the tack with the plane face of the tool facing the inside of the head, as shown in Fig. '7. Upon pushing the tack further into the slot the head of the tack is tilted and pressed against the flat side of the tool. In this way, thumb tacks lying loosely in the hand may also be readily picked.

In Fig. 9 is shown a modified form of the tool comprising a plate I having a prising edge 2 and a slot 3' which gradually increases in width as it approaches the circular aperture l formed in the rear portion 5' of the tool.

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for the extraction and retention of thumb tacks, consisting of an elongated plate of sheet-metal one end of which is provided with a prizing edge and a slot opening in the prizing edge and extending longitudinally so as to divide the end of the plate into two elongated prongs, said slot having a width less than the diameter of the shanks of said thumb tacks and said prongs being resiliently movable relative to each other in the plane of the plate so as to permit the tack to be clamped between the sides of the slot, said slot terminating at its inner end in an aperture in the plate which is wider than the lateral width of the inner end of the slot.

2. A tool for the extraction and retention of thumb tacks, consisting of an elongated plate of sheet-metal one end of which is provided with a prizing edge and a slot opening in the prizing edge and extending longitudinally so as to divide the end of the plate into two elongated prongs, said slot having a width less than the diameter of the shanks of said thumb tacks and said prongs being resiliently movable relative to each other in the plane of the plate so as to permit the tack to be clamped between the sides of the slot, the lateral width of said slot increasing toward the inner end of the slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

